The Marin Catholic High senior was deeply committed to the girls golf program, but foresaw not having a full team her final two years in high school.

Numbers had dropped and the talent pool had graduated. It was an unexpected downturn for Marin Catholic — just four years removed from being the MCAL's most dominant program.

"You don't give up or lose hope," said Bledsoe, the Wildcats' lone four-year varsity player. "We went to all extents to be able to have a team and to rebuild. And now that we're here, we're very proud."

Marin Catholic once reigned over the league, possessing a 79-match winning streak and earning the label as five-time MCAL champions from 2004 to 2008. After a sharp spiral downward, including a 2-12 season in 2011, the Wildcats are back near the top.

Marin Catholic is 7-4, sitting in the top half of the league and aiming for a return to the MCAL tournament for the first time since 2009.

"Everything has come together this year," Kelli Hughes said.

As much as no one expected the program to fall as hard as it did, the rise has been just as impressive under third-year coach Mike Miller.

It all started with Bledsoe.

With the help of assistant coach Lynn Gray, Bledsoe created flyers to post in the hallways, in the bathrooms and wherever she could at the high school. The goal was to attract girls' attentions to the sport and try out.

It emphasized the benefits for being on the girls golf team: the friendships, the uniforms and the pride in representing their school. The effort was a big success.

"It really was," Bledsoe said. "We had a huge turnout. We had a huge informational meeting, it was definitely huge."

All six Wildcats in the lineup today are seniors. Five of them joined within the past two seasons and would not be out if not for Bledsoe's efforts.

Hughes and Lauren McGrath are in their second seasons. Olivia Thomson, Caroline Grinnell and Katherine Aycock are in their first years.

Jana Viets, a freshman, has also contributed and will be the program's future.

The team's balance has fueled its success with four different players having shot the Wildcats' low score in a match.

"It's nice to have a team that's well-balanced like we are," Miller said. "We don't have to depend on just one girl. We know up and down the board we can get consistent scores from all of them."

The experience of last season and grinding through a tough year to finish next to last in the MCAL proved invaluable for the returning seniors. It tested their resolve and whether they wanted to make something out of their senior year.

"They're all practicing and spending time on the weekends," Miller said. "So it's a very positive year."

Added Hughes, "This year, we understand the game better. We understand this is how far I am away from the hole and what club I need to use. I mean, we know the game better."

Bledsoe said she was aware of the program's past expectations when she arrived as a freshman — one year after Marin Catholic's last league title. But the standards that previous teams set never weighed on her mind, even during the down years.

"It definitely has been tough, but it's definitely been a lot of fun and a lot of hard work," Bledsoe said. "Being able to bring different girls together, who've never played this sport before and to learn it and be out on the golf course for the first time, it's definitely been fun to see their growth."